Sunday, August 06, 2000
Tournament could move
Contract at ATP Tennis Center runs through 2005 tournament
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Last year, 97 percent of the tickets available for the Great American Insurance ATP Championship were sold for the main draw's 13 sessions. There is a five-year waiting list for courtside boxes, and the Tennis Center has only 15 total suites — about half as many as it needs for demand. It's only natural, then, that tournament chairman Paul Flory would be thinking about how to expand the facility.
With an eye on the future, Flory earlier this year asked Carl Lindner about his plans for the ATP Tennis Center in Mason once the tournament's lease expires in 2005. The Cincinnati businessman, who owns the property in Mason, across the highway from Paramount's Kings Island, said he wasn't sure. So Flory began exploring possibilities in Butler County, Warren County, Northern Kentucky and elsewhere in the Greater Cincinnati area.
“All we're doing is trying to plan for the future,” Flory said. “We want to be here for the next 40 years.”
Flory continues to talk with Lindner and work with officials in other areas. By the end of the calendar year, he hopes to know where the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati's future lies.
The event would probably not change sites until 2006 — if at all.
“We're having lots of talks,” Flory said. “We've not shut off any avenue. Everything's being explored.”
Flory took over as tournament director in 1974. By 1981, the event was held in Mason, which Flory believed would be more accessible for fans coming from Columbus and Dayton.
The ATP Tennis Center undergoes additions or enhancements almost every year. For example, in 1998 two new courts and a beer garden on the mezzanine level of Center Court were added. Last year, a new mezza nine was built on the northest corner of Center Court, a new box office was added and a museum celebrating 100 years of Cincinnati tournament tennis was put together.
If the event — now one of 13 mandatory tournaments for top-ranked players — remains at the Mason site, Flory said several changes will be needed, including:
• More luxury suites
• Better luxury seats
• More box seats
• Larger men's locker room
• An additional locker room in case the site should get a women's event that would be held simultaneously with the men's
“We must continue to look for ways to make improvements,” Flory said.
“If we were to do it here (in Mason), we'd add to what we have. There'd have to be some pretty big changes. But it could be done.”
If the tournament does not remain in Mason, and no other quality deal surfaces, the event might have to entertain offers from other cities. Tournament officials say that would be an extreme last resort, something that has not been seriously considered.
“We love it here,” Flory said. “We love the Cincinnati area. We can't say enough about our fans. They're terrific.”
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